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Dec. 16, 2009

Wind Mobile, Canada's newest player in the wireless segment has finally launched its mobile services by opening stores in Toronto and Calgary. More stores are also to be opened soon, the company has said.

This brings even more competition into an already hotly contested cellphone market, not just in Canada but in the U.S. as well.

While Wind Mobile didn't immediately say what its exact pricing strategy will be, the newly-created wireless services company did say that its system will offer no activation fees, mobile service contracts or network access fees.

Network access fees are currently a hotly contested topic and one that irritates many mobile phone subscribers.

The new company has launched stores in the Toronto area and says it plans to open more later this week in Calgary, to be followed by a rollout in Vancouver, Ottawa and Edmonton in the new year.

There's still no news as to whether the company will open stores in the Montreal area.

Wind Mobile was also quick to point out that it will not charge for enhanced 9-1-1 services or incoming text messages and long distance calls, and will not charge penalties for changing or cancelling a plan.

Mobile handsets currently offered include the BlackBerry Bold 9700, the HTC Maple and the Samsung Gravity 2.

Some wireless industry analysts think the HTC Maple makes sense and that there will probably be some Canadians that will adopt it just because of the name reminds them of the maple leaf on their Canadian flag.

Outside of its own coverage area, Wind Mobile says it will provide national coverage through a roaming agreement with Rogers Wireless and Telus Mobility.

The new mobile service provider is certainly going up against some already very established players such as Rogers Wireless, Telus Mobility, and, to a lesser extent, Bell Canada.

Wind Mobile has also formed a new partnership with video chain Blockbuster and has opened a few "Mobile Boutiques" in thirteen stores in Toronto and three in Calgary.

More Mobile Boutiques are expected to be opened in January and February on the new year.

When asked if the company might eventually consider the U.S. market, Wind Mobile CEO and Chairmain Anthony Lacavera said his company will mostly concentrate its marketing efforts in Canada, and said that there are no immediate plans to look at the American market in the near future, but that such plans could eventually change in 2011.

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Source: Wind Mobile.